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Original poster

How many of you are blood donors?

84 replies

mears · 29/04/2004 15:29

I successfully gave blood today after being knocked back for the past 2 years because of being anaemic (problem now solved due to curing of heavy periods - thankyou Tranexamic Acid).

DS1 who was 17 yrs old last month also went and donated for the first time. DH is also a donor.

The leaflet that came asking us to doates says that only 6% of people in AScotland are donors which is really shocking.

Many of you will not be able to donate because you are pregnant or have babies under 1 year - but do your partners or relations donate?

2 of my babies needed blood transfusions, women sometimes need blood after giving birth. DS's friend needed blood after his operation to remove the tumour from his knee.
I bet we all know of someone who has needed blood. Do the majority of peolpe just take it for granted that it will be there when needed?

Next time you see an advert for blood donors - encourage someone you know even if you can't go yourself.

OP posts:

kiwisbird · 29/04/2004 20:20

DH donates as do I as I have a slightly more desireable blood type, nothing special so I am told but even so...
Think its important xx

skerriesmum · 29/04/2004 20:20

It is so important! I haven't since ds was born 13 months ago, but will definitely go next time the clinic comes to my town. That's interesting about Spain as I remember giving in France years ago (as a student from Canada.) I first donated blood in my first year at college, the residences had a competition which I think is a bloody(!) good idea.

skerriesmum · 29/04/2004 20:21

hi kiwisbird, we posted at the same time!

tanzie · 29/04/2004 22:23

SenoraPostrophe, they won't take nasty contaminated British blood here either (mad cows). Not from anyone who lived in UK at any time since 1981.

I donatedin UK and found the walk in places really difficult - ie they all went to lunch between 12 and 2, when most working people would have walked in!

Ghosty · 29/04/2004 22:33

It makes me so cross that I can't give blood in NZ.
They have a blood shortage here ... but if you have been to the UK anytime since 1985 you are not allowed to donate ... So that makes about 1/2 the NZ population that can't donate blood ...
Stupid

wobblyknicks · 29/04/2004 22:36

I wanted to donate a few years ago but couldn't because I was anaemic and the gp advised against it. Now my iron level's fine but I rang the gp a while back (dd is 10 months now) and he said leave it until she's a year just to make sure everything's hunky-dory (his exact words). So in a couple of months I'll be getting hooked up to be drained!!! Or CD can just come and do it for me!!!

emsiewill · 29/04/2004 22:38

I gave years ago pre-children, and have started again in the last couple of years. I always try and encourage people to come with me, and have waged a campaign at my work to let people take an hour off to go and donate - they come regularly to the local leisure centre which is across the road. But it doesn't make the company any money, so they won't consider it. Have taken the dds with me, so hopefully they will do it when they're old enough.

Always had a secret desire to be turned away for being too light, though

SofiaAmes · 29/04/2004 23:39

Yes, I used to donate when I was a teenager and early 20's, but had to stop as I kept passing out...I have very very very low blood pressure and they finally said it really wasn't a good idea for me to donate any more AND now even if I wanted to I can't donate in america as they think I'm a mad cow because I lived in england in 1980. DH is petrified of needles, otherwise I'd send him off to donate.

lydialemon · 30/04/2004 00:46

I'm waiting until July when I can donate again, DH donates as well. Can I urge all of you who donate to sign up to the bone marrow register as well, next time you give blood! Big shortage, and desperately needed!

bloss · 30/04/2004 02:59

Message withdrawn

robinw · 30/04/2004 06:02

message withdrawn

StuartC · 30/04/2004 08:15

I've given over 50 times (got a gold card!) and DP now donates.
When the reminders arrive mine says "You've got O+ (very common) so your donation is especially valuable to us..." hers says "You've got (can't remember what hers is, but it's a rarish one) so your donation is especially valuable to us..."

Hulababy · 30/04/2004 08:58

I have tried to 3 times now but can never get enough blood out After a certain amount the blood just stops. It even happens if I have to have more than one blood test down. No idea why. Not tried since ttc and being pg (DD now 2) so ought to go and try again really.

Well done to those who do donate

grumpyzebra · 30/04/2004 11:11

Had bad experiences with giving blood so don't do that anymore, although I've been a milk donor twice... have been told they throw away a lot of my blood type (AB+), anyway, because it can only be given to other AB+'s and we are less than 4% of the population so it goes off before anybody needs it. But I have DH in the habit of donating, and his blood type is MUCH more versatile and valuable (O-).

Tinker · 30/04/2004 11:14

Oh thank you gz, you've made me feel less guilty now.

LIZS · 30/04/2004 11:34

We are not allowed to give blood here (dh used to do it in UK ) because we lived in UK at the time BSE/CJD was at risk of getting into the food chain.

LIZS · 30/04/2004 11:35

Just checked other posts and see Switzerland is not alone...

janinlondon · 30/04/2004 11:50

Phlebotomist at the hospital when I was pregnant actually told me never to try to give blood. It took a team of four nearly two hours to get a little vial out of me, and that ended up coming out of my hand (which is really really yucky). Also I throw up constantly while they do it. More trouble than the blood people can handle! I do send DH though.(!)

katierocket · 30/04/2004 11:52

i used to go all the time before being pregnant and haven't been since. this thread has inspired me to start going again. an opportunity to put your feet up is not to be sniffed at in my book.

layla · 30/04/2004 14:53

Mears that's great-I think blood donors are fantastic.Has anyone thought of becomming a bone marrow donor as well.They are definately needed.
I wanted to be a bone marrow donor and a blood donor but they won't have me for either as I have ankylosing spondilits which is a white blood cell disease.
Luckily I've never needed a blood transfusion.

sobernow · 30/04/2004 15:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

acnebride · 30/04/2004 22:31

have donated quite a few times though I think as I am A neg i am not particularly useful. here's a thing though - I once (only once) had a bad experience with having the needle inserted, and got a bit nervous since. Last time I went, I noticed a sign saying you could ask for a local anaesthetic. since i really do get a bit tense when they are sticking it in (fnarr), I decided to ask. They clearly thought I was a bit of a wuss to ask, but i didn't care - and it was great! hope this still applies next time I go.

highlander · 01/05/2004 07:12

I got my bronze badge last year :0

Did you know that in Dundee if you donate plasma you get a tray of tea and bics all to your self

I was on the bone marrow register and was matched at Christmas but then they said MVP made me a risk for surgery - even my doctor DH coudln't change their minds. I still feel really sad to think that someone out there got their hopes up about my marrow

toddlerbob · 01/05/2004 07:26

Another person here who can't give blood due to stupid rule about mad cows. It seems especially silly that they should make all this effort and then if I needed blood I would quite happily have blood from someone who had lived in the UK, after all it would be a bit hypocritical not to.

I'm afraid I used to wear a badge on days my work had the donor people in saying "I'm a mad cow". My colleague had one that said "I'm a vegetarian and they still don't want me." It was pretty small writing and she got a lot of men peering at her boobs that day.

I'm B+ and I've no idea whether that would be useful to them anyway.

Original poster

mears · 01/05/2004 09:36

Remember that they break your blood down into various components so there are uses for the other parts that the blood group itself doesn't matter.

However, British plasma is no longer used either from anyone in the UK. It is imported. I have lots of anti-D antibodies which could be used but again British anti-D is not used. It is imported from USA and Bavaria.

OP posts:

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